A spokesman said: “Snow showers or longer periods of snow are expected on Tuesday.

“There is the potential for travel delays on roads, with some stranded vehicles and passengers, as well as delays or cancellations to rail and air travel.

“Some rural communities could become cut off.

“Power cuts may also occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow on Tuesday (Image: Met Office)

“Heavy snow showers are expected on Wednesday.”

The Met Office chief forecaster warned that as much as 10cm of snow could fall in parts of the UK.

They said: “Further snow showers are expected through Tuesday, with the potential for a more organised band of snow to push south-west across many parts of England and Wales through the day.

“There is uncertainty in the extent of snow.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow on Wednesday (Image: Met Office)

“However, there is the potential for 5-10 cm of snow in places where showers become more frequent, or in association with the more persistent band of snow.

“Nearby locations may see much less snow and only small accumulations of 0-2 cm in places.

“Strong winds will lead to drifting of lying snow, with lightning an additional hazard, particularly near North Sea coasts.”

The spokesman said it would be a similar picture for Wednesday.

Thursday - the first day of meteorological spring- is on course to be the coldest day of next week with lows of -5C as an intense icy blast grips most of the UK and Europe.

Katie Greening, forecaster of The Weather Channel, said: “Thursday will be the coldest day across the UK next week, with temperatures struggling to lift above freezing in the day and possibly -7C or -8C overnight.

“There will be risk of snow throughout next week, mainly for eastern coastal areas and northern England but snow cannot be ruled out farther westward.

Temperatures are set to plummet next week (Image: The Weather Channel)

“Tuesday will see more in the way of widespread snow, turning to ice later in the day and overnight into Wednesday.

“Overnight frosts will be a feature of the weather - most intense cold expected on Wednesday February 28 and Thursday March 1.”